"France is proud to welcome you, just as you were proud to carry its flag, the flag of freedom," said President Hollande. More naturalisation ceremonies are expected to follow for other veterans in France. One of those granted citizenship on Saturday, Mohamed Toure, said the gesture will go some way towards healing old wounds. "President Hollande did what none of his predecessors ever imagined. And that repairs a lot of things," he said. Image copyright EPA Image caption Many of the veterans fought with the French army in Algeria and Asia The granddaughter of a Senegalese soldier, Aissatou